OREANDA-NEWS. July 01, 2011.  An important event took place on the eve of the remarkable day – the birthday of President of Turkmenistan Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov – the first Ashgabat-Turkmenabat-Atamyrat passenger train arrived to Kerkichi settlement situated on the right bank of the Amu Darya River. Local people cordially welcomed first passengers.

Those speaking at the ceremony of meeting the train noted that it had become possible due to the huge concern and great attention paid by the Turkmen leader to the social and economic development of the region. Due to the support and patronage of President Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov the accelerated paces of construction and putting the grandiose engineering structure – Railway Bridge Atamurat-Kerkichi across the strong Amu Darya River into operation were achieved that allowed connecting the right-bank steel main lines with a united railway network of Turkmenistan. Since the beginning of regular freight traffic, that is two years before opening the bridge, high volume of significant cargo including construction materials, equipment, agricultural products, mineral fertilizers, fuels and lubricants, etc. were transported.

Thus, since present time passenger train operation has started along the new bridge. Henceforth, the Ashgabat-Turkmenabat-Kerkichi train will daily run along this route that is of particular social importance for the people living on the right bank of the Amu Darya River in the southeast of Lebap Velayat. Passengers from Kerkichi can easily get Turkmenabat, Ashagbat and other regions of the country. Local people expressed deep gratitude to the Turkmen leader for this present and wished him good health and new successes in his tireless labor for the benefit of the Turkmen people and independent Motherland.

The passenger train, which started running along the new route, came back to the capital on June 29. The passengers arriving from Kerkichi noted that new carriages were very comfortable and expressed deep gratitude to the Turkmen leader for the unceasing concern for the improvement of social and living conditions of people in the epoch of new Revival.